“A collection of profound and epic album reviews and musical articles by former astronaut and brain surgeon, Alasdair Kennedy. Reaching levels of poetry that rival Keats and Blake, the following reviews affirm Alasdair to be a prodigy, a genius and a god whose opinion is always objectively right. He is also without a doubt the most modest man in the universe.” - Alasdair Kennedy

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Friday, 21 July 2017

BEST AND WORST NEW TRACKS OF THE WEEK 21/07/2017: Lana Del Rey, Tyler the Creator, Low Chimes and more...

UPDATE: Both Tyler and Lana’s new albums are out now!

I’ve
still got so many records queued up to get through. HELP

THE BEST:

‘Blood Orange’ – Low
Chimes

This band’s press photos give off such a
just-another-breezy-indie-band air that I almost didn’t bother listening to their
material, but I’m glad I did. Folksy vocals float over glistening guitars and a
rolling bass riff. It's uniquely hypnotic. Rock may be facing it’s
retirement stage right now given recent stats (hip hop is now officially more popular than rock in the US), but I’m glad newcomers like this are proving that guitar
music still has places to go.

‘Groupie Love’ – Lana
Del Rey

These new 808 flavoured tracks that Lana’s been releasing as
of late feel like some of her most upbeat music to date - relatively speaking
of course. I mean, it’s still got that longing sighed-out borderline-suicidal
mood about it, but the beats and A$AP Rocky’s presence make it feel more urban
and energetic. It’s as if the femme fatale has moved onto wooing traplords now.
And it hasn’t got Playboi Carter throwing auto-tuned yelps over it like previous
single ‘Summer Bummer’.

‘Ain’t got time’ – Tyler, the Creator

Can we get over the fact that Tyler may or may not be gay
and instead appreciate how fun this upcoming album is likely to be? His beats
are only getting more wonderfully whimsical – in this case seemingly blending
trap and tango – and the ‘I ain’t got
tiiiiiime’ refrain is stupid but brilliant, as has always been the style of
hip hop’s loopy class clown.

‘What Is This’ –
Machinedrum ft. Rosie Lowe

What is this? A certified banger m8!!! Dreamy vocals ride
some sharp chord stabs accompanied by smatterings of hard percussion. It’s the
producer’s usual snazzy work – ecstasy pills on a plate served under a cloche.

THE WORST:

‘Big B’s’ – Chance
the Rapper ft. Young Thug

Thugga is up to his usual sporadic spluttering and Chance
sounds out of tune. You don’t need this in your life, trust me.